A woman holding a child smiles as she crosses Constitution Ave. in downtown Washington as snow and rain move through the Mid Atlantic region, Sunday, March 30, 2014. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(Newser)
–
Feeling gloomy about life, the universe, and everything? Then take note of a new study that links optimism to heart health and a handful of other health positives, EurekAlert reports. Analyzing data on more than 5,100 adults, researchers found that the most optimistic are twice as likely to be "in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts," says lead author Rosalba Hernandez. "This association remains significant, even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental health." Optimists were found to have better total cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and body-mass indexes, and to get more physical activity. "It's an incentive to try to be optimistic," CBS New York quotes a physician as saying.

That's "oftentimes difficult in the times we live in, in the world we live in and the sad news all the time," the physician goes on. "But if you knew that you could actually save your life, I think that’s a pretty good prescription." Published in Health Behavior and Policy Review, the paper looks at 11 years of data on people aged 45 to 84 across six US regions. They were assessed every 18 months to two years by seven health metrics (including blood pressure, BMI, and dietary intake) and filled out surveys about their optimism and physical and mental health. It's likely the first study linking heart health and optimism in the general population, although a 2012 Harvard study did connect overall happiness with cardiovascular health, the New York Times reported at the time. (Another study finds that those who feel younger than their age will live longer.)

Then take note of a new study . . . . . . from about 3,000 years ago: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.  Proverbs 29:18  KJV

truefreedom

Jan 13, 2015 8:54 AM CST

I keep away from haters, I don't listen or watch the mainstream media with their corporate/political propaganda and theirs lies (only the local news), I don't stress out and worry about what other people say, think or do........ultimately I don't ever give up. That helps with me being optimistic......the only thing I need to do is adjust my diet and be more active or exercise. That makes me optimistic.

Chris Farley

Jan 13, 2015 7:54 AM CST

And a critical thought process is good for your mind. The best place would probably be in the middle someplace.